FEC okay $2.99bn rail projects across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contracts worth $2.99 billion for three major rail projects spanning Lagos State, Kano State, and Kaduna State.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the approvals reflect the federal government’s commitment to infrastructure development.

According to Oyedele, the rail projects are designed to boost productivity, drive economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life for Nigerians by enhancing transportation efficiency.

Oyedele added that the council also constituted a presidential power sector task force to be chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

“Council today approved the award of contracts for three transformative rail projects. One is the Lagos green line rail project, phase one,” the minister said.

“The second is the Kano state metro city rail project. And the third is the Kaduna state light rail project,” he said.

According to him, the projects will be sponsored by the ministry of finance incorporated (MOFI) on behalf of the federal government, with counterpart funding from other sources.

The minister said the three initiatives are expected to significantly enhance urban mobility in key economic centres.

Oyedele described Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna as critical cities where targeted investments could deliver outsized returns

“These three cities are very important and critical. All cities are important, but this is where you have your 10 percent effort yielding 90 percent results,” he said.

He added that the green line is one of the most anticipated segments of the Lagos metropolitan rail network.

The minister said it is designed to run from Marina on Lagos Island through the Lekki corridor one of sub-Saharan Africa’s densest commercial and residential hubs — and beyond.

Meanwhile, the Kano metro city rail and Kaduna light rail target two of northern Nigeria’s most economically significant urban centres, aiming to ease congestion and support commerce.